The Media Certification and Media Monitoring Committee (MCMC) was established by the state government following the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) guidelines to regulate advertisements and paid news during the Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha elections. However, the committee members have not yet received their remuneration, leading to widespread dissatisfaction due to the state government’s negligence.
As per the Election Commission’s letter dated August 24, 2023, and the guidelines from the ECI on February 1, 2024, regarding the roles of the Chief Electoral Officer and District Election Officer in media regulation, MCMCs were formed in each district. These committees, aimed at curbing the rise of paid news during elections, included a social media expert, an air broadcasting officer, a senior journalist and the district information officer as the secretary.
The committee’s work began on the first day of election application filings and continued until the election date. After the assembly election results were declared on November 23, 2024, media cells in all districts remained active until December 6, 2024, due to the circulation of fake news and videos on election bulletins, local news channels, and social media. The Chief Electoral Officer extended the committee’s duties via a letter dated November 28, 2024.
While employees involved in the election process were compensated promptly, the MCMC members were not paid. When the Jalgaon district administration sought clarification from the state government, no response was given. This has caused frustration among the committee members across the state.
